Mary E. Hamilton

Doctor Mary Elizabeth Hamilton, age 86, died Monday, December 27 in a Texarkana hospital. Doctor Hamilton was born March 23, 1924 in Augusta, Arkansas and has lived in Texarkana since 1975 when she moved from Leavenworth, Kansas. Doctor Hamilton graduated from high school in Augusta, Arkansas with the highest marks ever earned in that school and went on to graduate from junior college in 1944. She attended Arkansas State Teachers College to continue work on a degree in business education and began her teaching career at Lepanto High School in Lepanto, Arkansas. Doctor Hamilton completed her undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Doctor Hamilton retired in 2005 after 25 years as an Associate Professor of Education at Southern Arkansas University where she also directed the University's Curriculum Center and the Rosemary Rea Regional Arts in Education Center. She was a member of the Arkansas Archaeology Society and sponsored summer programs for AEGIS students; summer Enrichment for Gifted and programs through the Elderhostle and for Arts in Education featuring many regional artists. Doctor Hamilton was the recipient of the Arkansas Arts Council's 1994 Arts in Education Award. She was a member of the National Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, the Lions Club of Magnolia, the Quota Club of Magnolia, Elks of Texarkana, and the Eastern Star. Dr. Hamilton traveled extensively in the US and Europe; and, as an avid Democrat, attended Clinton White House events in 1996 and 2000. Dr. Hamilton is preceded in death by her husband, Carl Hamilton and a great granddaughter Lecy Fowler. She is survived by daughters, Carla Nakata McBee and her husband Lee McBee of Lawrence Kansas, Leslie L. Hamilton of Texarkana, a son and daughter-in-law, Michael W. and Donna Hamilton of Escondido, California, and daughter Mary Janine Hamilton of Texarkana; a sister, Virginia Boyles of Augusta, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Angela Nakata and Gregory Nakata of Kansas City Missouri, Jessica Hamilton of Escondido California, and Rachel Lear of Texarkana; as well as four great-grandchildren, Gregory Fowler, Michael Hamilton, Carl Hamilton and Oliver Lear as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Friday at Trinity Presbyterian Church with Reverend Russell Wilkins officiating. Graveside services will be 1 p.m., Monday at Augusta Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Arkansas under the direction of Texarkana Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the Texarkana Funeral Home Thursday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Those wishing to memorialize Dr. Hamilton may make contributions to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1653 Topeka, Kansas 66601. Register online @www.Texarkanafuneralhome.com.